Join me with Elora and just vibe! As we wish all artists could do all the time. But alas, there is capitalism to survive. But we can still be weird and thrive together. Elora Blessing (she/her) is a queer Tacoma artist with a background in graphic design and a BFA in the field with a minor in printmaking. Most of her work is digital illustration, and centers around themes of feminism, queer identity, and body acceptance. She shares her struggles with perfectionism and how she's working on letting go and putting herself out in the art community and all the beautiful surprises that has brought her.

You can see her three days after this episode comes out at the Brewery District Maker's Market [https://www.instagram.com/brewerydistrictmakersmarket/?hl=en] on Thursday, December 18. And be sure to follow her on social media @hello.hysteria [https://www.instagram.com/hello.hysteria/] and reach out to her about commissions!

References
Cassandra Kuring @cassnackwichez [https://www.instagram.com/cassnackwichez/]
Phi Pottery [https://www.phipottery.com/]
https://www.phipottery.com/Arts at the Armory [https://artsatthearmory.org/]
Welcome to Slime Time [https://www.facebook.com/people/Welcome-to-Slime-Time-Art/61562485794925/]

Just Vibin' w/ Elora Blessing

In this minisode, I share an update on my intuitive art class, my no-good-dirty-rotten acrylic painting I'm wrestling with, and the revelation that I identify a little too strongly with my own self-doubt. 

May my ongoing, uncertain journey be a hand for you to hold along your own ongoing, uncertain journey. We've got this!

Minisode: Wrestling with Paintings, and Self-Doubt as an Identity

Content warning: discussion of death of pets

In this episode, I'm joined by my friends Fox and K, two fat white queer neurodivergent disabled witches, grief tenders, and death doulas, who focus on ritual, shadow work, magic and creativity for processing and integrating healing. This conversation gets directly to the point as we hold space for the grief of this moment in history. We discuss the power of witnessing each other and ourselves during hard moments, and the beauty to be found in processing grief and practicing acts of hope rather than waiting for hope to find you.

This conversation was so special, and I'm struggling to sum it up further. So just go have a listen. 

Here's how you can connect with Fox and K:
Fox Welsh: foxwelsh.com [https://www.foxwelsh.com/] or IG @foxwelshewriter [https://www.instagram.com/foxwelshwriter/]
K: IG @ultranerky [https://www.instagram.com/ultranerky/]
Their future death doula work: IG @queergrieftenders [https://www.instagram.com/queergrieftenders/]

References
The Spirit Spa [https://held.love/]
24/7 manifestation: IG @latha_jay_ [https://www.instagram.com/latha_jay_/] 

Death Is Grief Is Life Is Art w/ Fox & K

It's just me today! I'm trying out solo minisodes to be able to share what's going on in my own creative journey and be honest about my struggles with my creative practice. Instead of trying to be the expert, which my silly brain has been trying to convince me that's where I'll offer the most value, I'm going to lean in to my natural nature of being a seeker and just share with you what I'm playing around with and where I'm stuck. Right now, where I've been getting stuck is avoiding my bigger creative goals because I'm scared to be a beginner again or to suck as something that I've built up in my head. Sound familiar? 

I hope that my journey makes you feel a little less alone when you too are stuck avoiding things and feel like you'll never move the needle. 

Be sure to follow me on Substack (@lorealexander) [https://substack.com/@lorealexander] where I'll be migrating my online presence to try to exit the Meta-verse and connect with others in a different way and more deeply with myself. And come hang out with me in person in Tacoma on the second Wednesday of each month at Crafty AF [https://craftyafstudio.com/products/let-it-out-junk-journaling]! Let's junk journal together.

Resources
Maria Bowler
[https://substack.com/@mariabowler]Tacoma Night Market
[https://tacomanightmarket.com/]Off the Grid Podcast [https://offthegrid.fun/podcast]

NEW Minisode: Avoiding the Void and Other Ugly Podcast Updates

In this episode, I'm joined by Jamie Madden (he/sé), author of Bittersweet Lane: Creating Home(s) in the American Affordable Housing Crisis. In his book, he talks about growing up in affordable housing and how that influenced his current life's work to make sure price restricted housing continues to be built for the next kid--with all the restrictions of our current system. Growing up in that environment, perfection is required for upward mobility. Jamie discusses some of the ways he experienced perfectionism and how he encourages himself out of perfectionism through music and making watercolor art with his daughter. 

We also discuss themes of resistance and how art helps us remember our past and fight for the future. #FreePalestine

You can buy Jamie's book here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/bittersweet-lane-finding-home-in-the-american-un-affordable-housing-crisis-jamie-madden/22449916?ean=9798991642897&next=t&affiliate=13171]or wherever books are sold!

References:
Blindboy Boat Club [https://shows.acast.com/blindboy]
The Mountain Goats [https://www.mountain-goats.com/]
Row House Publishing [https://www.rowhousepublishing.com/]

Necessary Perfectionism w/ Jamie Madden

Content warning: there is mention of SA and death of a grandparent in this episode.

EJ Crocker grew up loving sounds, making noise, singing, and has been finding her way to music ever since. From childlike wonder through honing a craft and making a living with her music. 

We talk about how being a "professional" can take the joy away from our art, and EJ is navigating that world beautifully and returning to childlike wonder and reckless abandon with her music. She has learned to rely on the people who inspire her and relish the small connections that keep her close to the music and to herself. I hope you enjoy this precious, vulnerable conversation that is graced with birdsong from EJ's rooftop.

EJ is a guitar teacher and teaches private students of all ages out of her home studio and at Ted Brown Music. Give her a listen at ejcrockermusic.com [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsptr.eocampaign1.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FAMabkMG3lrYKfCXMwfJFNQ~~%2FAAAHURA~%2FJmRvgKik6RViIJGfQ3nv6Mu6T8k8xmXpoyWv9cOqJnUWZ4QFVEQBLBiC17_4Lu1ZqlXiLVZOQLKbPtj0ko0HhVNYXLyMWTTUdGuJfi27Hlfi7GK-yklNr8jxhSZcx-V-zGCGiJSAuH49OeTyuydHGSbF8d3xNm88A1G4OUuqkWk~&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cb22e150ad47a4c0ed14208ddace04fdc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638856801596760626%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hMHtJJTCgekNU7nCEMcADkskpVLamZ%2BQFHFrjQ2RRhM%3D&reserved=0]!  Around Tacoma, keep an ear open for her bands Threocracy [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsptr.eocampaign1.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FGYBMt8sdzkomZunFFwYyXQ~~%2FAAAHURA~%2FqDuBtBJ0HtECwxrbKsI0ZGdgqCBiHHHc4BHO_nql6jC0lgLiXIS_v1fKB2hEMolE9Ho7DQCNpgpqaxqAyyZ4cTJvgkEA_B6sRFfbWi1zUvi5Ns_sKQtB0FzGSLqUA7Tg32LjhFHzkD6es7x4CfxlfZXlEGkxmzrq0ouSLMtOYr1gqBhGGWReWfsGgofZ1wv5&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cb22e150ad47a4c0ed14208ddace04fdc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638856801596777264%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=d8KsFZqmeZQAO%2FIbLo3%2FOMmED0Y9gexPK5YIfg%2BHcgw%3D&reserved=0] (a jazz organ trio) and Sweet Marilyn [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsptr.eocampaign1.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FxQZczahn94aa_TBxBifBzA~~%2FAAAHURA~%2FZwOiGdV0XcfGS11ttUCNLLIy3Txt2Oud0_i_2aKnN4AwJMKYWf-4rIHjbxm98-S2i_k-esobRaF_2TxSiJZ9rlN6IU5g57trPRs3HVWWJ7BzjHoc8fRVpXPlgeJPQm4DybzRpeJvRlW1YbRXFTy8t_5347dgDgI4HIWreOjk77g~&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cb22e150ad47a4c0ed14208ddace04fdc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638856801596793291%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vA0qQvCDYWexaUGXDt0N%2F9MKzJayFvQHTke%2BKc7tX2Q%3D&reserved=0] (an indie rock outfit).

References:
Andrea Gibson: "I Sing the Body Electric; Especially When My Power Is Out"

Returning to Reckless Abandon w/ EJ Crocker

In this episode, I'm joined by Brigitte, a systems and self-care witch for neurodivergent creatives, to chat about how structure and process don't have to mean limitations on your creativity and can instead be "enabling constraints" to move you forward into creativity. We chat about Brigitte's path from not seeing herself as an artist to eventually seeing the real picture of becoming and inhabiting the life of an artist instead of wrestling with the picture she had in her head. Sound familiar?

If you're a neurodivergent creative with a million ideas you can't seem to organize, definitely check out Brigitte's coaching offerings! You can find her on her website [https://www.brigittemarieenergydesign.com/]as well as her YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJCxe5yTl4en99GiH5GkM5A].

References:
Yet another shout out to The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
"Enabling constraints" shout out to Christine Garvey with A Mighty Practice [https://www.instagram.com/amightypractice/]
Kyra Sutherland with Joyful Divergent [https://www.instagram.com/joyfuldivergent/]

Containers for Creative Freedom w/ Brigitte

In this episode, I'm joined by Ania Pilch (she/her) to discuss her journey toward a creative life through her platform, Not the Creative Kind. Ania grew up believing she wasn't a creative person; if art doesn't seem to come naturally to us, sometimes it's just easier to not go there, allowing stasis and status quo to run the show. There came a point when Ania realized she wanted to change up her lifestyle, and when she pictured her ideal life, there was always art involved--but why have a music studio if you're not playing music? She decided it was time to explore a what a "creative life" meant to her.

Thus began her quest to engage in a more creative life. She challenged herself to try one new hobby every month, and Not the Creative Kind was born. Check out the community she's building on IG [https://www.instagram.com/not.thecreativekind/]and WhatsApp [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BGxBSutITisK9qdUdZQKLP]!

References:
CreativeMornings Field Trips

Not the Creative Kind w/ Ania Pilch

In this episode, I'm joined by Jade Monroe (she/her), a community builder and musical artist, for a special conversation about how creativity can be an avenue to a higher purpose. Today, we chat about how we can all find courage to act through fear by developing trusting connection with ourselves rather than chasing after the shiny things and flashy attention we're taught to want when thinking about putting our art out into the world. What can we find here on the grittier, messier interpersonal side of community when we focus wholeheartedly on reclaiming our power, standing together in solidarity, and creating art that speaks to our souls?

Jade is a container of multitudes. By day, she develops food waste reduction policies for a sustainable future. By night, Jade hosts a songwriter club, powerlifts with determination, and shares her soul through music with her ultra-talented bandmates. She has been actively involved in helping organize the local chapter of 50501 Protests and encourages us all to stand together and speak out, as is our right, to create the world we want to live in and stand up to authoritarianism. You can see her band, Sweet Marilyn, play at the Frontier Lounge on April 25 here in Tacoma! See more of their event dates and purchase their latest album at https://sweetmarilyn.art/

References:
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Porchfest: https://tacomaporchfest.org/

Know Yourself, Know Community w/ Jade Monroe

Note: The last 10 minutes or so got completely messed up somehow, aaaaaand I cannot fix. I'm so sorry! I hope you enjoy it anyway :) 

In this delightfully imperfect and serendipitous episode, I'm joined by Alyssa Ryann (she/they), local Tacoma artist with a passion for making art more accessible to the general public. We met at a holiday artist market and I was immediately drawn to her apparently limitless styles. Today, we ended up talking about our shared philosophy that saying yes to yourself is the most self-loving thing you can do--including saying yes to making terrible art--as well as how important art is for survival, resistance, and revolution. Alyssa even made a t-shirt specifically from our conversation today which you can purchase through this link: https://alyssaryannart.etsy.com/listing/1856937802 using the code UGLYART for 20% off!

You can follow along Alyssa's journey on IG @alyssaryannart [https://www.instagram.com/alyssaryannart/]. They'll even host a paint and sip for you if you'd like!

Art Is Vital for Survival w/ Alyssa Ryann

Lore talks with creatives and industry professionals about the creative process and how to live more openly and fully through the willingness to make "ugly" things—including this podcast! Lore aims to let creatives know they're not alone and they deserve to explore all facets and forms of creativity, not just what is accepted as "good art." 

Lore (they/them) is an editor, creativity coach, and the founder of Scribe & Sunshine. You can find more about what they do at https://scribeandsunshine.com/ and if you want to support them, you can do so at https://ko-fi.com/scribesunshine.

Lore Alexander

Shows